carrara is a marble mined from the historic quarries in the mountains above the italian coastal city from where it derives its name. synonymous today with carrara stone tiles and carrara stone slabs, this classic white marble stone has become the modern day standard for opulent surfaces.

used for thousands of years, carrara marble blocks and carrara marble tiles were instrumental in greek and roman architecture where the stone was used for both carrara tile floors and carrara cladding of walls. blocks of white carrara were also carved to form voluminous columns and balustrades of colosseums and palaces. this classic white marble was a favorite material adopted by royals and wealthy merchants.

used throughout history, it is perhaps the renaissance era where this stone holds the most intense visual memory. indelibly imprinted in our art history DNA with the likes of leonardo da vinci's pieta and michelangelo's david, each carved from single blocks, these major renaissance sculptures would be non-existent if not for the beautiful stones mined from the great carrara quarries.

carrara marble is recognized both for its white color and delicate grey veining derived from the mineral deposits that make every slab of marble unique. there are various grades of carrara marble with the highest quality (statuary carrara) having the least amount of veining, versus the lowest grade of carrara marble having the most veining. in fact, the lowest grade of carrara tiles actually look grey instead of white. some providers will refer to carrara tiles as bianco carrara (white carrara) or other terms not used by the carrara quarry. a strikingly golden-toned veined form of carrara is best known as calacatta and is one of the most expensive carrara stones along with statuary carrara that is favored by stone carvers. both of these rare stones are extremely expensive when they are true carrara stones.

in modern times, carrara marble has taken on a whole new vibe as the most prized finish for any new architecture or redevelopment. bringing all of its white, luminescent qualities to architectural projects- carrara is still considered one of the most regal surfaces. along with the recognition of carrara slab and carrara tiles in heritage projects, carrara stone is also known for its retention of cool temperatures. this aspect is the reason for the predominant use of carrara marble in most professional kitchens and bakeries where carrara counters perfect the art of pastry making.

from a practical viewpoint, carrara is a porous stone and is susceptible to acid etching which can lead to staining, however, its merits as a solid, heat resistant material make our carrara marble tile a strong contender for any kitchen or bathroom surface whether counter, floor or wall. when used on counters and floors, a sealant is required to keep the surface as free from patina as possible. that said, clé continues to strive to encourage the U.S. client to embrace the sealant-free carrara patina, typical of what you would find in an italian home. it is often what attracts people to the stone in the first place as carrara marble is most beautiful when they have a time-worn to a soft honed finish as well as a warmer white from patina.

our white clé carrara features a quality that is the highest form of standard-grade carrara marble. this means it is the whitest stone tile of standard carrara and will allow for the traditional high quality carrara tile look, while still meeting the affordability of budget-conscious projects.
we are pleased to offer a full collection of carrara white stone marble tiles beginning with several traditional mesh-mounted carrara mosaic tile formats (hexes and penny round), carrara subway tiles in several sizes, and larger carrara tile shapes such as hexagon and a large format and plank-shaped rectangular carrara tile.